The evaluation is the part of the internship that many supervisors postpone until the final week, and then rush through. That's unfortunate, because a well-considered evaluation is one of the most valuable tools you have. Both for the student and for your own development as a supervisor.
Why Evaluation Matters#
An evaluation is not a grade in the narrow sense. It is structured feedback that helps the student understand where they stand, what they've done well, and what needs improvement.
For the supervisor, the evaluation serves additional purposes:
- Documentation: a written record that the school uses in its assessment
- Reflection: a chance to think through how the supervision has worked
- Quality assurance: input to the school about the relevance of the education
A perfunctory evaluation with only "good" and "pass" helps no one. A specific and nuanced evaluation can change a student's career trajectory.
What Should Be Evaluated?#
Regardless of internship type, LIA, APL, or VFU, evaluations typically cover four main areas.
1. Professional Competence#
Has the student demonstrated the knowledge and skills the education program aims to develop?
- Ability to perform tasks independently
- Application of theoretical knowledge in practice
- Problem-solving ability
- Quality of the work produced
2. Collaboration and Communication#
How does the student function in the team and in interactions with others?
- Communication with colleagues, clients, or students
- Ability to receive and act on feedback
- Willingness to collaborate and flexibility
- Conflict management (if relevant)
3. Professional Conduct#
Does the student demonstrate the behaviors the workplace expects?
- Punctuality and attendance
- Accountability
- Initiative
- Handling of high-pressure situations
4. Development Over Time#
Has the student progressed during the period?
- Compare with the first weeks, what has changed?
- What tasks can the student handle now that were difficult at the start?
- Has the student applied feedback received?
The last point is often the most important. A student who starts weak but shows clear development often has greater potential than one who runs on autopilot the entire period.
Ongoing Feedback vs. Final Assessment#
A common mistake is saving all feedback for the end. This works poorly for at least two reasons:
- The student gets no chance to improve: if you mention a problem only at the end, it could have been addressed weeks earlier
- You don't remember the details: after six weeks it's hard to give specific examples if you haven't documented along the way
Structure the Ongoing Feedback#
You don't need formal meetings every week (though that helps). But set aside five minutes at the end of each week to note:
- What has the student done well this week?
- What needs improvement?
- Are there specific situations I should bring up?
A simple digital document or notes app is sufficient. The point is to have concrete examples when it's time for the final assessment.
Bi-Weekly Check-Ins#
Schedule short check-ins, 15 to 20 minutes, every other week. Use a simple structure:
- What has gone well?: start positive, it sets the tone
- What can be improved?: be specific and offer suggestions
- What should we focus on going forward?: give the student a clear next step
This format gives the student confidence and structure without taking too much of your time.
How to Write a Good Final Assessment#
As the internship approaches its end, it's time to compile your observations into a formal evaluation. The school often provides a form, but here are principles that apply regardless of format.
Be Specific#
Avoid vague phrases like "the student did a good job" or "shows potential." Instead, describe what the student did and how:
| Vague | Specific |
|---|---|
| "Good collaboration skills" | "Actively participated in the team's sprint planning sessions and contributed their own suggestions from week three" |
| "Needs to develop initiative" | "Often waited to start tasks until receiving explicit instructions" |
| "Shows potential" | "Developed an internal report template that the team continues to use after the internship" |
Balance Positive and Constructive#
An evaluation that only highlights strengths provides no guidance. One that only points out weaknesses crushes motivation. Aim for a balanced picture, but be honest. The student deserves to know where they actually stand.
A good rule of thumb: for every area of development, mention a strength in the same domain. For example: "Communication with clients was professional and clear. Internal communication via email could sometimes be unclear, but this improved significantly after we discussed it in week four."
Avoid Comparisons#
Do not compare the student to other interns you've had. Evaluate based on the education's goals and the workplace's expectations: not based on how "the previous intern" was.
Common Pitfalls in Evaluations#
The Halo Effect#
A student who is pleasant and social sometimes automatically receives high marks on everything, including professional competence. Pleasant demeanor and professional skill are different things. Assess them separately.
Recency Bias#
You remember the most recent weeks most clearly. This means a student who had a bad final week risks receiving an unfairly poor evaluation, even though they performed well throughout the rest of the period. Your ongoing notes counteract this.
Avoiding Difficult Conversations#
If something hasn't worked, say it. Writing "pass" because you don't want to cause discomfort does the student a disservice. It's better to be honestly constructive than falsely positive.
Digital Evaluation Tools#
Handling evaluations via email and Word documents works, but it creates extra work. Digital tools streamline the process by:
- Standardizing the forms
- Sending automatic reminders
- Compiling results for the school's quality assurance work
- Giving the student direct access to their evaluation
Prakto offers digital evaluation workflows where supervisors, students, and the school can fill in and share the evaluation on the same platform. It saves time and reduces the risk of the evaluation falling through the cracks.
The Evaluation: An Opportunity, Not a Burden#
Evaluating an intern requires thoughtfulness. But it doesn't need to be complicated. With ongoing notes, regular check-ins, and a structured final assessment, you give the student something valuable: an honest picture of where they are and where they can go.
That's one of the finest things you can do as a supervisor.
